From Sequins to Sunshine by Lorna Penfold.

     From Sequins to Sunshine by Lorna Penfold.

"We were like two expectant parents waiting for all our babies to arrive."

Lorna qualified as a dance teacher when she was 17 and she soon became the owner and principal of an extremely successful dance school in Brighton with classes as diverse as Latin American, freestyle disco, country and western as well as the more traditional ballroom dancing. " I ate, slept and dreamt dancing."

Once she was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 2007 she was forced into giving up dancing so Lorna and partner, Alan had to consider other options. Alan was happy to emigrate to Florida. " I think Alan would have been perfectly happy to sell Coco-Cola in Sea World." And the second choice? Spain of course. Andalucia to be exact, a popular home for budding expat writers and farmers. Breeding alpacas was seen as a lucrative business. You might remember Alan Parks' book which also documented their move to The Olive Mill in Cordoba province with their virtually insurmountable complications over their car and livestock as well as their solar energy. Whilst there is some overlap-after all they did share this experience-the stories are not identical but do complement each other. My advice is not to read them together otherwise you might experience a bit of deja vu.


Lorna initially set up a blog, encouraged by numerous friends as a way of keeping in touch which reads like a diary, spilling out her heart and emotions of the risks taken in adopting a hermit-like existence, thwarted at every crossroad with unceasing obstacles. She admitted that "nothing is plain sailing" and wearing her heart on her sleeve had made her vulnerable to emotional outbursts and fits of depression. Life plods along nicely for a while then there are plenty of set-backs.

Losing a cria, then its mother when you are attempting to breed alpacas as in the sad case of Black Dancer can transform the stalwart into an emotional wreck. When the alpacas first arrived at The Olive Mill there was so much elation. They were quickly mated and the air of expectancy was optimistic before disaster struck. Alan had to remind Lorna: " If you have livestock, you are going to have deadstock."


As well as the managerie of cats, dogs, domesticated and strays, Marybelle the pig and numerous fowls, there are some delightful accounts of day-outs to Malaga and Fuengirola and Cordoba, the Mezquita and the Jewish Quarters with the infinite Spanish fiestas and expat barbecues who share the same dream of breeding alpacas. Then of course there are frequent visits from family and friends to endear you to want to share Lorna and Alan's life here in Montoro, the good times and the bad ones.


"Are we bonkers?" "Yes, maybe we are! Let's call it an adventure………………."

Available as an ereader from Amazon.
Copyright 2014. Permission must be obtained from the author before any of this article review is reproduced.

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